O’Donnell: Doctor, doctor, give me the score – NFL ‘23 on quite a roll with house calls
BY NOW, ANYONE WHO CARES realizes that NFL games can easily be doctored.
Under existing federal law, according to author Brian Tuohy, that’s all perfectly legal regardless of the hundreds of millions of dollars that change hands on outcomes.
The smartest speculators know that they’re not merely picking against point spreads and money lines.
The final point of consideration on any complete handicapping checklist is: What is the best result for the illusory drama of the NFL?
But when TV crews are all but laughing – and snarking - at officiating decisions, that’s not good news for Roger Goodell and Co.
That’s far too public. Do not rile the gambling saps.
A PRIME TIME EXAMPLE came Monday night late in the paper mismatch between the Titans (+14) and the host Dolphins. Close to 80 percent of public money was on Miami.
The Dolphins led 27-21 with 1:53 remaining. But Tennessee had the ball on the Miami 7-yard line facing a second-and-3.
Two Titans jumped. ESPN’s Chris Fowler said: “Another false start.”
Very simple.
But following a brief officials huddle came the house call: “Delay of game (on the defense) for ‘abrupt movement.’”
SAY WHAT?
Two Dolphins down linemen had laterally – and legally – altered their stances before the snap. Then the two Titans illegally moved too soon.
From the booth, one of the analysts – either Louis Riddick or Dan Orlovsky – audibly laughed.
The game resumed. On the next snap, Derrick Henry scored the winning TD and bookmaking interests from Vegas to Costa Rica danced like it was Super Bowl III.
EARLIER, OVER ON ABC, while referees were interminably reviewing a comparatively inconsequential call during the Jets-Packers game, an exasperated Troy Aikman snapped, “The problem with all this is just make the call, ya know?
“There’s 13 seconds left in the (first) half – just make a decision. This is what stops all these games. The officials, I know, they’ve been talked about every week. But this is ridiculous what we’re watching right now. I mean, we see something that takes five seconds and takes them five minutes.”
NO CALL LAST WEEKEND drew greater scrutiny than the penalty against Kansas City that wiped out a potential game-winning touchdown vs. Buffalo.
Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney lined up in the neutral zone. Travis Kelce caught a pass on the following play and lateraled to Toney, who rolled to the end zone to complete a 49-yard TD.
Flag, penalty, points wiped out. The Bills won.
Patrick Mahomes, atypically, went ballistic. In their postgame remarks, both Mahomes and Andy Reid emphasized the unusualness of the call with no prior warning to Reid of Toney’s tendency.
It didn’t matter. By Tuesday, Mahomes was - predictably as a good NFL citizen - apologizing for his reaction.
THAT OFFICIATING DECISION underscored that it’s the timing of NFL flags – involving penalties called and infractions overlooked – that can deliver desired results.
Bottom line, as far as the public chasing the NFL, it remains a jungle out there.
For a league built by 20th century bookmakers like “Blue Shirt’ Charlie Bidwill (Cardinals), Tim Mara (Giants) and Art Rooney (Steelers), is it any wonder?
And certainly not a gaming pastime for big boys without whistles.
STREET-BEATIN’:
The Bulls’ new Ring of Honor is a nice idea but here are some authoritative corrections to the inaugural grouping: Norm Van Lier and John Paxson in, Artis Gilmore and Tex Winter on “hold.” (Winter’s pilfered triangle offense was a cute affectation that Michael Jordan made work. Jordan could have made winter road construction on the Kennedy work.) …
Also Bulls-beatin’, quite thoughtful of lead referee Mark Lindsay to run Denver global luminary Nikola Jokic late in the first half of “Serbian Heritage Night” Tuesday at the United Center. (Jokic was born in Sombor, in northern Serbia.) Lindsay should have stayed with Paul Revere and the Raiders. …
Adam Rogowin, well-seasoned in Chicago, is the new VP / comm & content for the Boston Bruins. Hockey titles follow Rogowin: The New England native was around a Calder Cup for the Chicago Wolves (2008) and a main media maven for all three Blackhawks Stanley Cups. (In any press box, that’s called “a lucky charm.”) …
Memo to Tom Ricketts and Cubs currency counters: The Wrigley Field “Winterland” is a creative, fan-affordable use of the ball park (running daily through Jan. 7). But when parkers are abruptly doubling computerized-listed prices because of “surge,” that’s insensitive and chintzy. The Cubs chairman needs to police his profitable good tidings a little more diligently. ..
Chris Collins, Boo “Baba” Buie and Northwestern should be able to name the score at DePaul Saturday (4:30 p.m., FS1, AM-670, AM-720). To hold interest in the second half, maybe Doug Collins can come on down and coach the ‘Cats while Mark Aguirre sidles cross-court to guide the Blue Demons. …
Sports agent Sean Stellato will be among the 2023 inductees into the National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame at its annual banquet in Elk Grove Friday night. Stellato is getting big profile right now as the rep for Tommy DeVito, the improbable Jersey-bred QB of the NY Giants. And Eli Manning was way out of bounds Monday calling Stellato “slimy” on the ManningCast of the Giants-Packers game. …
And Phil Mushnick, with a December breakdown of the injury-pulverized NFL: “Third-string quarterbacks throwing to taxi-squad receivers after taking the snap from a guy who a week ago was delivering dry cleaning.”
Jim O’Donnell’s Sports and Media column appears each week on Sunday and Thursday. Reach him at jimodonnelldh@yahoo.com. All communications may be considered for publication.